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By Merit Ibe
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has applauded the Federal Government’s plan to establish a National Commodity Board and proffered strategies that should be adopted for a successful implementation of the policy.
Director General of the chamber, Chinyere Almona, acknowledged that the initiative aimed at regulating the rising food prices in Nigeria, comes at a critical juncture when the rising cost of food has become a pressing concern for both the government and citizens and where food inflation has reached an alarming level, as highlighted by the National Bureau of Statistics data placing Nigeria’s food inflation at 33.9 percent as at January 15, 2024.
Almona noted that the proposed commodity board has the potential to bring stability to food prices by continually assessing and regulating them.
“ This could alleviate the burden on consumers and enhance overall economic predictability and the creation of a strategic food reserve for stabilizing prices of crucial grains and other food items is a positive step toward ensuring food security and mitigating the impact of supply chain disruptions.
“The Chamber views this initiative as the government’s commitment to implementing effective short-term strategies to counteract subsidy removal and ensure immediate food supply and to deploying concessionary capital from the Central Bank of Nigeria to the agricultural sector, especially toward fertilizers, processing, mechanization, and other key aspects, as a positive move that can enhance the overall productivity of the agricultural value chain.”
She however, viewed that the chamber observed that the price regulation may address immediate concerns, but there is a risk of market distortion if not implemented carefully.
“Over-regulation may discourage private sector participation and hinder market dynamics which is against business community growth. More so, this plan may largely involve complex logistics that will require robust systems and processes to ensure the board’s effectiveness without bureaucratic bottlenecks.”
“Considering this development, the LCCI offers its insights and recommendations on the best strategies the federal government should adopt for the successful implementation of the National Commodity Board.”
To this end, the chamber recommended that distribution of fertilisers and grains to farmers and households should be prioritised to counteract the immediate effects of subsidy removal on food prices.
“Foster collaboration between the ministries of agriculture and water resources to ensure efficient farmland irrigation, promote year-round food production, and reduce dependence on seasonal variations.
“Expedite the establishment of the National Commodity Board to assess and regulate food prices.
“This board should also be mandated to maintain a strategic food reserve to stabilize the prices of crucial grains and other food items.
“Actively engage the youth population by making agriculture an attractive and viable option.
“This can be achieved by creating 5 to 10 million jobs within the agriculture value chain, aligning with the government’s commitment to job creation.”
Almona said it is imperative that the private sector, including farmers and other stakeholders, is actively involved in the decision-making processes and implementation of the commodity board to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness.
She added that the rising cost of food is a critical issue that requires immediate attention and sustained effort, announcing the LCCI’s readiness to collaborate with the government in implementing these strategies to achieve the shared goal of ensuring food security and stabilising prices for the benefit of all Nigerians
